"Do we say that she shouldn't go out there and sail or that nobody should go out and sail because you face hard knocks and sometimes people need to be rescued? I don't think so," her father, Laurence Sunderland said. "She's proven herself capable of dealing with this."

What do you think?

Parents of Watson and Sunderland say they felt this was a major lesson for their children. Do the benefits outweigh the fears? Would you let Abby make another attempt after this? Are parents in general too fearful today or not concerned enough?